Today marks the launch day of National Apprenticeships Week. The annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, taking place across England, will showcase how apprenticeships have helped employers and people of all ages and backgrounds. Employers are encouraged to promote the great work of their apprentices, whilst highlighting the many benefits apprenticeships bring to their business. Apprentices, at all stages of their learning will also be celebrated over the course of National Apprenticeship Week 2021.

We would like to take the opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work which all of our members who are following an apprenticeship route are doing. Members like Emma Preston who is an Apprentice Project Management Technician for Northumbrian Water. Having completed her A-Levels at sixth form (in subjects unrelated to engineering), Emma then joined the apprentice programme with NWL, and she is currently in her second year of studying for an HNC in Civil Engineering at New College Durham. Her varied role includes project management of sub programmes in the capital delivery wastewater networks team whilst also working on some internal projects to help reduce flooding in our community – such as Bin the Wipe. Emma says that “The apprenticeship is progressing really well, and I am glad I chose the apprentice route into the industry. After completing my HNC I am hoping to go on and study for a degree in Project Management.” We wish Emma and all of her fellow apprentices good luck in their future careers and we look forward to helping them all on their water sector career journeys.